Portable pitching mound

ABSTRACT

A portable pitching mound that includes three flat panels, sequentially attached to each other. The flat panels are pivotally attached to each other such that they fold in upon each other when not in use.

The present application claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 61/001,002, filed Oct. 29, 2007 by Don Gensler and which is titled “Portable Pitching Mound”.

BACKGROUND

Youth athletics are generally conducted on limited budgets and at constantly varying venues. The sport of youth base-ball or softball is not an exception and is also confronted with these issues. Practice sessions and even league games can be conducted on a flat field which is devoid of a pitching mound. In response to this problem, several “portable” pitching mounds have been devised.

Prior to now, portable pitching mounds have been bulky and heavy. Typically, a portable pitching mound of prior art must be transported using a pickup truck and must be handled by at least two people because of its size and/or weight. These limitations run contrary to the typical way in which youth sports are conducted. Typically, a single coach administers practice sessions and may or may not have access to a larger vehicle that can be used to transport a portable pitching mound.

What is clearly needed is a portable pitching mound that can be transported using a small vehicle and that can be handled by one person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects are better understood from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of one example embodiment of a portable pitching mound;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration that depicts rotation of the third platform relative to the second platform of the described portable pitching mound;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial illustration that depicts another aspect of portability of the present portable pitching mound; and

FIG. 4 is a pictorial illustration that depicts a fully folded configuration of the present portable pitching mound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of one example embodiment of a portable pitching mound. According to this example embodiment, it portable pitching mound comprises a first platform 10, a second platform 40, and a third platform 70. A first cavity 20 is further included in this example embodiment of a portable pitching mound. The first cavity 20 is disposed beneath the first platform 10. Typically, this a first cavity 20 is in opposition to the first platform 10. When the apparatus is in use, a user 15 stands upon the first platform 10. The first cavity 20 provides an elevation 25 above the surface of the ground 85 upon which the portable pitching mound is positioned. Typically, this elevation is approximately 8 to 10 inches, but this example elevation is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. In some example embodiments, the first platform 10 is supported by one or more braces 80 disposed horizontally beneath the first platform 10. Typically, the one or more braces 80 are fixed to a cross braces 87 at one end of the first cavity 20. This end 37 of the cavity 20 is typically left in an embodiment where the first cavity 20 is established by three risers 22. One of the risers 22 closes the opposing end 35 of the first cavity 20 and the remaining two risers 22 are set substantially perpendicular 23 to the riser closing the end of the first cavity 20.

According to this example embodiment, a portable pitching mound further includes a second platform 40. This second platform 40 is attached to the first platform 10 at a first pivot point 30. Directly underneath the second platform 40, this example embodiment further includes a second cavity 50. This second cavity 50 is formed by two risers 52. In this example embodiment, the two risers 52 that form the second cavity 50 are tapered at an angle 120 so as to allow the second platform 40 to rest at a descending slope relative to the first platform 10. A third platform 70 is also included in this example embodiment and is attached to the second platform 40 at a second pivot 60. This third platform 70, according to this example embodiment is supported by risers 100, which are also tapered by a similar angle 110 so as to allow the third platform 70 to rest at substantially the same descending slope as the second platform 40. This descending slope allows the user 15 to step downward through a pitching motion.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration that depicts rotation of the third platform relative to the second platform of the described portable pitching mound. In this example embodiment, portability is achieved by allowing the third platform 70 to rotate 130 about the second pivot point 60. The third platform 70 is rotated about the second pivot point 60 until it is fully enveloped within the second cavity 50.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial illustration that depicts another aspect of portability of the present portable pitching mound. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the second platform 40 is allowed to rotate 150 about the first pivot 30. In this configuration, the third platform 70 remains in a folded positioned and is contained within the second cavity 50. Accordingly, the second platform 40 and the third platform 70 are substantially parallel to each other and collectively rotate about the first pivot point 30. This rotation 150 continues until both the second platform 40 and the third platform 70 are substantially contained within the first cavity 20.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial illustration that depicts a fully folded configuration of the present portable pitching mound. In this fully folded configuration, the third platform 70 is typically contained within the first cavity 20. The second platform 40, according to one example embodiment, is also contained within the first cavity 20. However, in one alternative example embodiment the second platform is disposed outside of the first cavity. In this alternative example embodiment, the second cavity 50 is typically substantially contained within the first cavity 20.

While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. It is therefore intended that the true spirit and scope of the present invention include all such alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents. Some, but by no means all of the possible alternatives are described herein. 

1. A portable pitching mound comprising: a first cavity; first platform disposed in opposition to the first cavity; second platform pivotally attached to the first platform at a first pivot point; second cavity disposed in opposition to the second platform; third platform pivotally attached, at a second pivot point, to the second platform on a side opposing the attachment of the second platform to the first platform wherein the third platform rotates about the second pivot point for storage in the second cavity and wherein the third platform and the second cavity rotate about the first pivot point for storage in the first cavity. 